What a joy to spend time with our guest for this episode. Melissa Muganzo is an entertainer, entrepreneur, educator, and media producer based in Sacramento, California. She's a professor at Sacramento State, the founder of Mindy's Kitchen, a professional actress, and an award-winning entrepreneur and social justice documentarian. She was also raised inside a very particular kind of not-enoughness: not West Indian enough, not Afro-Latina enough, not Kenyan enough, and — according to plenty of people around her — not Black enough either.

This conversation goes everywhere. Melissa walks me through a childhood shaped by a Seventh-day Adventist mother, a Kenyan father with an entirely different spiritual inheritance, and the quiet math of a kid figuring out what it takes to be seen as good. They talk about what happens when the answer to every question you ask is "you just have to believe," and what it costs to keep editing your hair, your voice, your major, your whole life to keep the approval coming.

They also talk about the body — Melissa's affirmation that your body has been showing up for you the entire time you've been mean to it, and the therapist's line about what you're really saying when you criticize the features you inherited. I share what I have learned about vertical and horizontal morality and Melissa offers the frame of "the good girl". 

If you've ever wondered which parts of yourself you're still editing to make other people comfortable, this episode is for you.

CONNECT WITH MELISSA

Mindy's Kitchen:

• Website: www.mindyskitchen.com
• Instagram: @mindyskitchen_ca
• LinkedIn: Mindy's Kitchen of California

Muganzo Entertainment:

• Website: www.muganzoentertainment.com
• Instagram: @muganzoentertainment
• LinkedIn: Melissa Muganzo

Also Mentioned:
Vertical vs. Horizontal Morality: Why It Matters for the Workplace Today

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode, Shawna and Andre get into what he calls anti-mixed violence and how it gets folded into other categories. They talk about conditional acceptance, the pressure to perform blackness, and the difference between being a guest at the cookout and holding the umbrella. Andre describes what race looked like inside a racially segregated prison yard, where he ran raffles with Scrabble tiles and sold cheesecake made from mozzarella and coffee creamer, and where a kid got badly hurt for accepting a slice from someone of another race. They also work through where they disagree, including whether proximity to whiteness is a useful frame or a projection. Andre closes with an argument about resilience and what he calls injustice collecting: the more things you find to be broken by, the more breakable you become.

Content note: this episode includes candid discussion of violence, including childhood bullying and violence inside prison, and includes strong language.

About Andre

Andre grew up in Inglewood, California, where being mixed meant getting jumped on the way home from school. After three years in prison, he came home and began speaking publicly about the mixed race experience, particularly the pressure to choose sides, conform to fixed labels, or suppress parts of yourself to fit what other people expect. What started as a personal defense of his own identity became a broader mission: creating spaces where layered identities can exist without explanation or fractions, and advocating for mixed race people to be unapologetically mixed.

Today he is president of the mixed student union at Cal State Northridge, where he is completing his final semester, and he builds community online while taking a critical look at how current perspectives on race can harm multiracial people. He encourages mixed people to stand on business, refuse to bend the knee to monoracial groups, and push for nuance, self-definition, and belonging at a time when conversations about race are often reactive and binary. Through campus organizing, digital dialogue, and public discussion, he explores what it means to move beyond racial extremes and toward a more integrated understanding of identity. He is also a former professional dancer and is at work on a book about internet addiction and what three years without a phone did to his thinking.

Where to find Andre
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsoktobemixed
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsoktobemixed/

Book news
Mixed Signals: A Multiracial Window into Civility and Belonging at Work arrives in September. Follow Our True Colors on Instagram for updates and behind the scenes tidbits.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Dr. Shawna Gann and her co-host, Marcel De Jonghe, sit down with Dr. Natalie Hart — speaker, consultant, and educator — for a warm, funny, and honest talk about growing up between cultures. Identifying as Afro-Latina and Latin Caribbean, Natalie shares how she moved past the pressure to prove she's "enough" for every community and learned to carry her full identity with confidence.
In this episode:

Why mixed-race folks feel they have to "prove" their heritage
The "no sabo kids" label and reclaiming culture across generations
Racial ambiguity as a superpower — and calling out harm in "safe spaces"
Representation vs. diversity, and what leadership reveals about a company's values

Plus Mixed Messages, on what really makes a workplace feel open-minded.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

What does it mean to reconnect with your ancestry when the journey doesn't come with a roadmap? In this episode of *Our True Colors*, Dr. Shawna Gann sits down with storyteller, community organizer, and anti oppression facilitator Jamison Schulz-Franco for a thoughtful conversation about identity, belonging, and the courage to remain curious. Together, they explore what it means to hold multiple cultural identities, reconnect with family history, and embrace the complexities that shape who we are. Rather than searching for simple answers, Jamison shares how listening to family stories, returning to ancestral homelands, and building relationships with people and the natural world have transformed the way they understand themselves.

Jamison also shares the inspiring story behind Special Bird Service, a community centered on creating welcoming outdoor spaces for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and queer communities through bird watching and connection to the land. From conversations about migration, oral history, and ancestral memory to reflections on cricket, community, and healing, this episode is an invitation to embrace the richness of our own stories while making space for the stories of others. If you've ever wondered where you belong or how to honor every part of your identity, this conversation offers both encouragement and hope.

Jamison Schulz-Franco is a storyteller, community organizer, and anti oppression facilitator whose work centers on community connection and embodied approaches to social justice. Born and raised on the ancestral territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking Peoples in what is now known as Victoria, British Columbia, Jamison's perspective is shaped by their South Indian, German, and Scottish ancestry. They currently work with a local land trust supporting Indigenous led stewardship on Southern Vancouver Island and co founded Special Bird Service, a bird watching community that brings people together through nature, belonging, and care for one another.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why curiosity can be more powerful than certainty in understanding identity
• Reconnecting with ancestry through family stories and lived experience
• Creating community through bird watching and relationships with the land
• Navigating multiracial identity without forcing it into either or categories
• The importance of oral history, belonging, and intergenerational learning

If this conversation resonated with you, we'd love to hear what stood out. Leave a review, share this episode with someone who would enjoy it, or connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn at Our True Colors Podcast.

Dr. Shawna Gann's upcoming book, *Mixed Signals: The Multiracial Case for Civility and Belonging at Work*, will be released in early Fall. Visit the website to sign up for updates about the book release and other exciting news.

Check out some more stuff!

The Christian Cooper Chronicles

Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper

The Blackfoot Wisdom that Inspired Maslow’s Hierarchy

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

What does it mean to have civil courage? And what happens when you refuse to forget?

In this special episode, Shawna talks with her friend of 35 years, Professor Dr. Mirjam Rein, about an extraordinary project that began with a simple classroom conversation. Students from HTL Mössingerstraße, a technical school in Klagenfurt, Carinthia in the south of Austria, spent months interviewing seven people whose stories embody the meaning of standing up, speaking out, and refusing to look away.

Shawna is one of those seven voices. Her story is now on display at the Kärnten Museum (June 17-August 16, 2026), part of an exhibition that speaks directly to the question: How do we remember what our society wants us to forget?

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why memory culture matters more than ever
• The concept of mono racism and what it means to exist in liminal space
• How civil courage lives in small moments (not just big protests)
• The stories of seven people standing for dignity, respect, and humanity: a refugee who lost everything, a historian reclaiming Holocaust memory, advocates for accessibility and women's safety, a human rights educator, a man honoring his family's resistance, and Shawna's own lived experience at the intersection of identity and belonging

This is a conversation about courage in action, humanity in practice, and the power of listening instead of looking away.

Download a companion guide here.

Learn more:

• Stolpersteine (Stumbling Stones) Project
• Code of Courage Podcast (Full Series on Spotify) 
• "The 5 S's of Engagement: Navigating Your Path Through Allyship"
• https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/arts/smithsonian-trump-activism-american-history.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wFA.zExk.breg3ZLbbnPV&smid=nytcore-ios-share

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann and Season 6 cohost Marcel DeJonghe sit down with Teressa Plammoottil, a first generation Indian American whose story explores identity, racial ambiguity, religion, family dynamics, and the complicated search for community. Raised in a traditional South Indian Catholic household and shaped by both life in India and the United States, Teressa reflects on the experience of living between cultures while constantly navigating how others perceive her.

Together, they unpack everything from language and representation to beauty standards, colorism, mixed identity assumptions, and the emotional impact of exclusion within one’s own community. Teressa also shares how leaving home as a teenager transformed her understanding of family, belonging, and resilience, ultimately shaping the compassionate and culturally aware person she is today.

As a discrimination complaint investigator for the State of California and commissioner on the City of Elk Grove’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission, Teressa brings both lived experience and professional insight to this deeply honest conversation about identity, empathy, and connection.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

•  Why racial ambiguity often creates both curiosity and exclusion 
•  The impact of colorism and Eurocentric beauty standards in South Asian communities 
•  How language can create a sense of home and belonging 
•  What it means to build chosen family after feeling disconnected from your own community 
•  The difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation 

Dr. Shawna Gann also shares reflections from her ongoing research into mixed identity experiences and belonging. Her upcoming book Mixed Signals: The Multiracial Case for Civility and Belonging at Work releases in early Fall. Visit the website to sign up for updates, book news, and upcoming conversations.

Connect with Teressa Plammoottil on Instagram @terenovah

Listen, subscribe, and share your thoughts with us. We’d love to hear how this conversation resonated with your own experiences of identity and belonging.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Five years after his first appearance on the show, Joshua Grant returns for a deeply layered conversation with Dr. Shawna Gann about transitional justice, systemic inequity, activism, media manipulation, and what it means to be human in a time of fractured realities. Together, they unpack how movements born in moments of collective trauma continue shaping communities today, from Minneapolis organizing efforts after George Floyd’s murder to ongoing conversations around race, privilege, identity, and institutional power.

Joshua reflects on his experiences studying law and navigating spaces where justice and politics collide, while Dr. Shawna Gann challenges listeners to think critically about propaganda, accountability, and the choices people make in the information age. The episode also explores liminal identity, intersectionality, whiteness as a social construct, and how systems of power shape the stories we tell ourselves about fairness, equality, and belonging. This conversation is thoughtful, emotional, intellectually rigorous, and deeply human.

Listeners will hear discussions about:

• Transitional justice and reconciliation
• Race and systemic inequity in America
• Media algorithms and political polarization
• Activism and community care in Minneapolis
• Intersectionality and liminal identity
• The difference between equity and equality
• The role of honesty in social change

If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who values courageous conversation and thoughtful dialogue. Subscribe, leave a review, and continue the conversation with us online.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

What does it mean to live in between?

In this episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann sits down with scholar and thought leader Dr. Marc Johnston-Guerrero for a powerful conversation about liminal identity, multiracial experiences, and the systems that shape how we are seen and understood. From his personal journey navigating identity through something as intimate as his name, to his groundbreaking work defining monoracism, Marc offers language and insight for experiences many people have felt but struggled to name.

Together, they explore how identity is shaped not just by who we are, but by the structures around us—from higher education to the workplace. Marc shares how his own experiences led him to study multiraciality, the importance of both specificity and shared experience in research, and why building community often happens later in life or outside traditional spaces. The conversation also dives into leadership, highlighting how navigating complex identities can influence empathy, perspective-taking, and the way we show up in the world.

This episode is a reminder that identity doesn’t have to fit neatly into predefined boxes—and that there is real power in embracing complexity, creating space, and building community where it doesn’t yet exist. 

Connect and Learn More:

•  Learn more about the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association
   
•  Listen to the episode about the CMRSA Conference
   
•  Learn more about Dr. Shawna Gann’s work and sign up for updates on her upcoming book Mixed Signals:
   

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who might need it—and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

What if something as simple as vitamin D could unlock deeper conversations about health equity, research gaps, and advocacy? In this powerful episode, Dr. Shawna Gann and Season 6 cohost, Marcel DeJonghe, are joined by Lauryn Walker, a patient recruitment associate in clinical research, who is passionate about translating science into real world impact. Together, they explore the link between vitamin D deficiency and racial health disparities, including the disproportionate prevalence of fibroids in Black women and the gaps that still exist in research for mixed heritage populations.

Lauryn shares how her academic journey led her to uncover critical insights about vitamin D and fibroids, and why awareness is still so limited even within medical spaces. The conversation expands into real lived experiences, from being dismissed in healthcare settings to the importance of self advocacy, representation, and rebuilding trust. This episode is both eye opening and empowering, offering practical ways to advocate for your health, ask better questions, and support the people in your life.

Lauryn Walker is a patient recruitment associate working in clinical research with a background in medical physiology. She is deeply committed to educating her community about vitamin D deficiency and its broader health implications, while promoting more inclusive and representative research practices.

Connect with Lauryn:
Instagram: @thesunnyvitamin

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

What does it really mean to belong when your identity doesn’t fit neatly into one box?

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Dr. Shawna Gann and cohost, Marcel DeJonghe, chat with somatic psychotherapist, coach, and educator Raina LaGrand to explore the layered realities of mixed race identity. Together, they unpack the tension between fitting in and truly belonging, the emotional weight of code switching, and the complexity of navigating spaces that were never designed with multiracial people in mind. Raina shares her personal journey, including unexpected discoveries about her ancestry, and how those moments reshaped her understanding of identity, healing, and wholeness.

The conversation also dives into what Raina calls the “mixed race belonging wound” and how it shows up in relationships, self-worth, and the ability to take up space. From racialized trauma and complex trauma to the surprising power of community and shared language, this episode is both validating and expansive. Whether you identify as mixed race or simply feel like you exist between worlds, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about identity, connection, and what it means to feel at home in yourself.

About Raina LaGrand
Raina LaGrand is a somatic psychotherapist, coach, and educator who supports mixed race adults in healing belonging wounds and reconnecting with their innate wholeness. She offers one-on-one and group programs worldwide and maintains a psychotherapy practice in Michigan, where she specializes in complex relational trauma, chronic pain, and racial identity. Raina lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan with her dog, Willa, and enjoys cooking with friends, reading books by women of color authors, and indulging in reality TV.

Connect with Raina
Instagram: @mixedracebelonging
Podcast: Mixed Race Belonging Podcast
Website: mixedracebelonging.com
Therapy practice: roottorisesomatics.com

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Content note: This episode includes strong language and explores childhood abuse, sexual abuse, and the lasting impact of trauma on identity and self worth.

In this powerful and layered conversation, Dr. Shawna Gann and co-host, Marcel De Jonghe sit down with Tara Moore, intuitive coach, empath, energy healer, host of the Rooted & Rising podcast, and founder of Soul’d Spaces. Together, they explore what it means to deconstruct identity, release inherited stories, and rebuild from a place of deeper truth. Tara reflects on growing up mixed race, feeling caught between worlds, and spending years trying to become who others expected her to be before beginning the work of reclaiming her own voice, worth, and sense of self. This episode moves through race, belonging, trauma, motherhood, healing, and the tension between how the world sees us and how we learn to see ourselves.

But the conversation does not stop there. In a deeply honest follow up, Shawna and Marcel revisit one of the episode’s central questions: what happens when personal agency meets structural harm? Tara then responds with a vulnerable reflection rooted in her own lived experience of abuse, survival, and the decision to stop cycles of harm in her lineage. What unfolds is not a neat conclusion, but an invitation to stay with complexity, hold multiple truths, and keep asking better questions. 

If this episode moves you, share it, subscribe, and send it to someone who values courageous conversations.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann sits down with returning guest Ashnie Butler for a rich conversation about identity, belonging, and the power of asking better questions. Together with Marcel De Jonghe, they explore what happens when curiosity crosses the line into assumption, why certain questions about race and ethnicity can feel intrusive, and how mindful inquiry can help us communicate with more care, honesty, and connection. Ashnie shares how her lived experience as an Indian Trinidadian woman has shaped the way she understands identity, marginalization, and the layered realities of fitting in and standing out.

Drawing from her work as a certified professional diversity coach and creator of The Art of Mindful Inquiry, Ashnie offers a grounded framework for slowing down, noticing what is happening in the body, and asking questions from genuine curiosity instead of confirmation bias. This episode speaks directly to anyone navigating racial ambiguity, workplace tension, difficult conversations, or the everyday challenge of building authentic relationships across difference. One of the biggest takeaways is this: questions can either open a door or slam one shut. Mindful inquiry invites us to pause long enough to choose connection.

If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who cares about identity, communication, and building deeper human connection.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Dr. Shawna Gann travels from Washington, DC to UCLA for the 2026 Critical Mixed Race Studies Association (CMRSA) Conference, themed Critical Healing. Before the first keynote, a grounding experience at the Fowler Museum’s Fire and Kinship exhibit reframes the weekend through an unexpected through line: fire as renewal, not destruction.

Across two workshops (Resonant Voices and Fault Lines and Bridges) and hallway conversations with scholars, artists, organizers, and first-time attendees, Shawna explores how mixed race experiences illuminate both personal inheritance and institutional architecture. From stories of ancestry, assimilation, and microaggressions to insights on systems, belonging, and community as oxygen, this episode asks what it means to heal without denying heat, and to steward the burn instead of fearing it.

In This Episode
• Traveling to UCLA for CMRSA 2026 (Critical Healing)
• Jackie Robinson’s legacy at UCLA and the pressure of integration
• Fowler Museum: Fire and Kinship as a frame for healing and renewal
• Resonant Voices: four interviews on lineage, identity, and lived experience
• Fault Lines and Bridges: a World Café on conditional belonging and structural shifts
• “Healing within inherited systems of power” and the turn toward institutions
• Hallway energy: why CMRSA feels different, and why community matters
• Closing reflections from LAX: carrying the fire without burning down

Featured Voices (as heard in this episode)
• Hedy Tripp (Resonant Voices)
• Galia Recinos (Resonant Voices)
• Jessica LeCap (Resonant Voices)
• Alicia del Prado (Resonant Voices)
• Steve Castro (session excerpt)
• Aeriel Ashlee (session excerpt)
• Dakota Duffy (Mixed Alumni Association at UCLA)
• Chandra Waring
• Deja Goodwin
• Wendy Ashley and Nolan Krueger
• Jordan Adams
• Joy DuVivre

Organizations and Places Mentioned
• Critical Mixed Race Studies Association (CMRSA)
• Fowler Museum at UCLA
• Multiracial Americans of Southern California (MASC)
• Resonant Voices &  Fault Lines and Bridges (True Culture Coaching & Consulting)

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

What would people assume about you if they could only hear your voice? In this expansive and thought provoking episode, Dr. Shawna Gann and Marcel sit down with global cultural commentator Joy DuVivre to explore identity across borders, histories and lived experience.

Born in Romania to a Romanian Romani mother and an Angolan father, and raised primarily in Angola, Joy brings a deeply layered perspective shaped by colonial history, colorism, migration and disability. From the legacy of Romani enslavement in Europe to the impact of colonial borders in Africa, this conversation moves across continents while staying grounded in one powerful truth: identity is fluid, contextual and constantly evolving.

Joy shares reflections on colorism using the framework coined by Alice Walker, the historical reality of Romani persecution including during the Holocaust, the parallels between Romani experiences in Europe and Black experiences in the United States, and what it means to become disabled after building a career rooted in physical expression. She also introduces her playful yet powerful identity markers like "West Coastian" and "Sunsetter", reminding us that belonging can be self-defined.

In this episode, we explore:

• How perception and voice shape racial assumptions
• The global roots of colorism and colonial hierarchy
• Romani history, enslavement and ongoing discrimination
• Afro Romani communities in the American South
• Assimilation, survival and generational silence
• Disability as identity
• Why mixedness is not a box but a lived experience

Joy mentions her excitement about attending the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association Conference taking place February 19 through 21 at UCLA in Los Angeles. Click here to learn more about the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association. Consider becoming a member!

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Host Dr. Shawna Gann and co-host Marcel welcome their first guest of the season in this powerful conversation of Our True Colors.  They are joined by the founder of Lonewolf District Ali Blair Caplan, known as "AB". In this discussion, they explore what it means to live between identities and still claim a sense of belonging. AB shares her lived experience as a biracial Black and white woman adopted into an all-white family, and how that journey shaped her understanding of race, contentment, and self-trust.

This episode moves through stories of being labeled, questioned, and reduced by others and how those moments can fracture identity or become catalysts for healing. AB reflects on the moment she realized society would always see her as non-white, regardless of proximity to whiteness, and how that reckoning led her toward spiritual practice, integrity, and creating spaces where people feel safe to be fully themselves. The conversation weaves together race, adoption, wellness, cultural responsibility, and energy work, offering grounding rather than escape. A central reminder echoes throughout. Love and good intentions are not always enough. Integrity, responsibility, and tending to ourselves matter if we want to stay human in uncertain times.

You can work with AB, too. Check out Wolf Pack Collective, a steady and supportive online community you can access from anywhere.

More to Check Out:

• The Aimee Amour - Best Bar DJ in New York City
• How frogs went from right-wing meme to anti-ICE protest symbol

To explore Shawna’s work and sign up for updates about her upcoming book Mixed Signals, visit TrueCultureConsulting.com.

If this episode resonated, subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need it.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Season 6 is here—and we’re starting with a Meet the Co-Host episode. Shawna welcomes back Marcel De Jonghe (joining from Birmingham, UK) for a warm, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about what it means to live in complexity. Marcel shares why being mixed isn’t a neat “half-and-half” story. It’s more like ingredients baked into something entirely new. Together, Shawna and Marcel talk about how identity often gets filtered through other people’s assumptions, how microaggressions can feel “frosted” in the air, and why belonging can be hardest in that in-between, liminal space where you’re moving… but never quite “arrived.”

Marcel also opens up about well-being and the importance of men speaking honestly about mental health—especially when pain can stay hidden for years until it demands to be addressed. He introduces the concept of sonder—the reminder that every person you pass is carrying a whole life of their own—and invites us to move through the world with more curiosity, care, and humanity. This season, Shawna and Marcel are leaning into honesty, nuance, and the courage to show up as our full selves—without shrinking into whatever version feels easiest for the room.

Connect with Marcel:

• The Belonging Lab
  LinkedIn
  
  

If this episode resonated, here’s your CTA:

• Share this episode with someone who’s ever felt “in-between.”
• Subscribe/follow Our True Colors so you don’t miss the conversations ahead.
• Leave a review—your support helps more listeners find the show.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Welcome to Our True Colors. This brief introduction gives you the full picture of what the show is about, who I am, and what you can expect in every season.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why I started this podcast and what “racial riddle, ethnic enigma, and cultural conundrum” really mean.
• How different co-hosts join me each season — and why that rotating perspective matters.
• The kinds of stories you’ll hear, from families, professionals, and my own lived experience.
• Why belonging is at the heart of every conversation.

👉 Want to connect?

Look for the link above to send me a direct message or let's connect online! You can find the links right here in the show notes.

Welcome to the community!

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

If you’re new here, this short trailer will give you a taste of Our True Colors. You’ll hear how the show explores identity, belonging, and life in the in-between spaces.

Subscribe now and then check out the full Start Here episode for a deeper dive into what we’re about.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

For the first time, I’m joined by my full family—my husband Chad and our kids, Christian and Ariana—in a double-length finale to close out Season 5 of Our True Colors.

We get into it all:

• Identity, hair, and insecurities
• What people assume about us as a couple
• Family culture, music, and travel
• How our kids make sense of their biracial identity
• What it really means to belong

It’s funny, vulnerable, unscripted—and filled with moments we’ve never shared, even with each other.

Let's stay in touch!

• Shawna on LinkedIn
• True Culture on LinkedIn
• The Culture Clinic Newsletter
• True Culture Coaching and Consulting
• Our True Colors on Instagram
• Season 5 Episodes on YouTube
• Contact Me Directly

Stuff to Explore and Learn More About:

• Our True Colors "Start Here" episode
• W.E.B. Du Bois & Double Consciousness
• J.D. Vance...calls Kamala Harris a chameleon

Previous Episodes with Christian Gann/Aimee Amour:

• Intersecting Communities: BLM and Pride
• Hey, Queen! Talking Racial Ambiguity with Christian Gann and Aimee Amour
• Follow Aimee Amour on Instagram and TikTok
• Check out this special edition Culture Clinic featuring Christian and Aimee

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this rich and vulnerable episode, Dr. Shawna Gann welcomes Belgian-French author, historian, and researcher Victoria Kabeya to discuss the complexities of multigenerationally mixed identity. From the trauma of slavery to the politics of racial categorization, Victoria shares personal stories, global insights, and the intellectual foundations behind her groundbreaking books. Together, they explore what it means to be Multi-Generationally Mixed—not just biologically, but culturally, historically, and emotionally.

Stuff to Check Out:

• Matriarch by Tina Knowles 
• Mixing: A History of Anti-Miscegenation Laws in the U.S.
• Free People of Color in Colonial Louisiana 
• BET: A ‘Love & Hip Hop’ Star’s Blackness Is Being Questioned
• NPR: For Some People of Appalachia, Complicated Roots
• The Melungeons
• YouTube: Understanding the Melungeons
• Arab Center DC: The Colonial Legacy in the Arab World
• NPR Code Switch: Why Rachel Dolezal Can Never Be Black
• HowStuffWorks: When Irish Immigrants Weren’t Considered White
• YouTube: The Asian Man Who Wanted to be White 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

This week, Dr. Shawna Gann—joined by her co-host Kat—welcomes Dr. Geoffrey Greif and Victoria Stubbs, LCSW-C, for a thoughtful and timely conversation about interracial and interethnic relationships, raising mixed-race children, and navigating identity across lines of race, culture, and experience.

The discussion is rooted in research and real-world insight from their forthcoming book When Family Relations Are Race Relations, and it touches on how societal events press into private life, how couples process racial identity differently, and how families work through tension, silence, and love in the face of cultural difference.

The episode was inspired by a moment of curiosity: Special thanks to Neal Augenstein, reporter at WTOP, whose segment sparked this episode.

And while Loving Day itself isn’t the focus of the conversation, the timing of this episode’s release—just ahead of June 12—makes it a powerful moment to reflect. In the intro, Dr. Gann shares a bit of history about the Loving v. Virginia decision, the legacy of Mildred and Richard Loving, and what “Virginia is for Lovers” means to her personally as someone in an interracial family.

🔗 Resources & Mentions

💛 Loving Day & Reflection

• “Remember. Reflect. Celebrate. Loving Day.” – Dr. Gann on LinkedIn
• Virginia is for Lovers – About the slogan

🎥 Pop Culture Mentions

• Cheerios Ad Featuring a Mixed-Race Family (YouTube)
• Today Show Article – Cheerios Ad Backlash
• A Simple Favor – Film Mentioned
• The Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical – RuPaul’s Drag Race (YouTube)

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode of Our True Colors, Shawna is joined by co-host Rachel Sadler and special guest Ian Gibbs-Hall—a DEI advocate, thought leader, and creator of Curiosity Architecture. With over a decade of experience creating inclusive environments, Ian offers a fresh framework that invites us to move beyond checkboxes and binaries and into deeper, more curious ways of seeing one another.

Together, they explore identity, belonging, masculinity, and the limitations of social categories—highlighting how “other” doesn’t just mean different, but often means left out. From coloring books to Frozen 2, neoliberalism to Mr. Clean, this conversation is as layered as it is enlightening.

And yes—you’ll want to check out the video version for the moment Ian reacts to Shawna revealing she used to work at Blockbuster Video.

✉️ Want to submit a question for the final episode? Use the message feature above to send a text.

📚 Referenced Resources & Links

• The Ethics of Identity by Kwame Anthony Appiah: Buy the book | Watch a video about his work
• Commentary on the Mr. Clean Commercial (yes, that one): Watch it here
• What’s a “Soy Boy” anyway? Read more on the term and its cultural baggage

🎧 Related OTC Episodes

• CJ Gross on Navigating Identity & Nuance
• Londell Jackson on Masculinity & Belonging

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this powerful episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann is joined by Cindy Ogasawara and Kara De Maine, leaders in the Resounding Love Interfaith Gospel Choir—a multiracial, interfaith, LGBTQ+ embracing choir grounded in African American musical traditions and active anti-racism practice.

Together, they explore:

• The complexities of racial identity, especially for those with mixed or ambiguous backgrounds
• What it means to be part of a community that doesn’t just sing together—but heals together
• How they’ve created a choir that holds joy and accountability side by side
• The connection between leadership, cultural humility, and inclusion

You’ll also hear how Resounding Love continues to hold space for marginalized voices in a time when Pride celebrations are shrinking and DEI efforts are under attack.

🎶 All of the music featured in this episode is performed by Resounding Love Interfaith Gospel Choir.

More Stuff to Check Out:

• These Words are Disappearing in the New Trump Administration
• From Free Speech to Fear Speech: When Language Becomes a Liability
• Sinners (2025) – A dramatic film that weaves blues and gospel influences into a story of justice, family, and faith.
• Resounding Love Songs Featured in this Episode:
  • Spiritual Medley
  • Waymaker
  • It is Well
  • Wonderful Is Your Name
  • How Excellent

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode of Our True Colors, Dr. Shawna Gann is joined by Hallie Pritchett — a public health leader, facilitator, and equity strategist — for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation about identity, belonging, and the challenges of showing up fully at work. Hallie reflects on growing up mixed-race in the Pacific Northwest, parenting a child who's already navigating complex identity questions, and how her lived experience has shaped her approach to leadership and equity in health systems.

Together, Shawna and Hallie explore:

• The social landscape of race in the Pacific Northwest
• Raising children who present racially differently from their parents
• Bridging across difference in mission-driven workspaces
• How assumptions about identity can lead to workplace missteps
• What it takes to create truly inclusive and psychologically safe environments
• The emotional complexity of DEI fatigue and boundary-setting
• Adult learning theory, code-switching, and why language still matters

Resources & Mentions:

• Jodi-Ann Burey & Ruchika Tulshyan’s article: Stop Telling Black Women They Have Imposter Syndrome (HBR)
• The 5 S's of Engagement: Navigating Your Path Through Allyship

Follow Hallie on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hallie-pritchett/

More from Shawna:

• Visit: https://www.truecultureconsulting.com
• Follow Our True Colors on Instagram
• Subscribe to The Culture Clinic via True Culture Coaching & Consulting on LinkedIn

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode, Shawna sits down with Londell Jackson—educator, strategist, and author of Between the Opposites—for a powerful conversation about the complexities of identity. From growing up mixed-race in Denver to navigating masculinity as a same-gender-loving Black and Latino man, Londell shares his deeply personal journey of self-discovery, cultural belonging, and emotional growth. Together, they explore themes like authenticity, inherited narratives, and the courage it takes to confront our “shadow self.”

Topics Covered:

• Growing up multiracial and feeling “not enough” for any one group
• Redefining masculinity beyond social expectations
• Why curiosity, empathy, and vulnerability are keys to connection
• The lenses we inherit vs. the ones we choose
• How identity journeys evolve across our lifetime

Resources Mentioned:

• Between the Opposites by Londell Jackson
• Carl Jung’s concept of the Shadow Self 
• NeverEnding Story: Atreyu’s Mirror Scene

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this rich and candid episode of Our True Colors, Shawna is joined by Rachel, returning co-host and fellow deep thinker and wonderful guest Annemarie Shrouder, international speaker, facilitator, and bestselling author of Being Brown in a Black and White World.

Together, they explore what it means to hold a “both/and” identity—especially as mixed-race or multiracial individuals navigating a world obsessed with binaries. Annemarie shares the powerful story behind her personal “aha” moment, the birth of the both/and framework, and the bridge-building superpower that comes with embracing complexity. They also talk about parenting multiracial children, code-switching across cultures, internalized shame, and the liberating work of self-acceptance.

We laugh, reflect, and get real about everything from childhood perms to generational healing, from the politics of hair to the power of poetry—and yes, even resting as resistance.

Topics include:

• The emotional journey of embracing multiracial identity
• Both/and as a tool for belonging and bridge-building
• Raising confident, culturally rooted children
• What happens when whiteness is the assumed default
• Why identity is a lifelong journey, not a one-time decision

Mentioned in this episode:

• Imagined Communities:
  Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism
• SPECIAL EPISODE: The Little Mermaid of Color
• When Black Girls Watch “Wicked,” It Hits Differently
• Wicked’s Elphaba Has Always Been Black. Cynthia Erivo’s Stunning Performance Cements It
• JK Rowling tells of anger at attacks on casting of black Hermione
• Who is Black?
• ‘One-drop rule’ persists
• The Hummingbird Parable: What We Can Do For Earth

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Kalya Castillo—a Black and Japanese psychologist and trauma-informed therapist—joins Shawna to explore identity, racial ambiguity, and the lived experiences of multiracial individuals. Together, they unpack what it means to grow up without cultural mirrors, the coded messages around hair and professionalism, and how mixed-race identity can shape the way we’re seen, valued, and understood.

Kalya shares insights from her research on the hypersexualization of Black and Asian women, and how these dynamics often show up in the workplace and therapeutic settings. She also offers a deeply personal reflection on motherhood, internalized bias, and the work of helping others navigate the in-between spaces of identity with compassion and clarity.

Stuff to check out from mentions in the episode:

• "How Are You?" A Question of Depth and Trust
• The Tahitian woman behind Paul Gauguin's paintings
• SheaMoisture - Break The Walls
• The Pain We Carry by Natalie Y. Gutiérrez
• What Is Trauma-Informed Therapy?
• Whites Distrust Biracial People When Their Racial Presentation Varies
• You're called a 'model minority' as an Asian American — until they decide you aren't

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode, Dr. Shawna Gann and Rachel Sadler sit down with Urmi Hossain—polyglot, author, global citizen, and financial services professional—for a deep conversation about identity, cultural complexity, and belonging. Urmi, who describes herself as "Bengali by blood, Italian by birth, and Canadian by law", shares her experiences as a third culture person navigating family expectations, global transitions, and what it means to truly belong.

The three discuss the nuanced layers of culture, race, and language—what it’s like to be misunderstood or misidentified, how appearances influence assumptions, and why storytelling matters. Urmi also shares insights from her book Discovering Your Identity: Rebirth from Interracial Struggle, a memoir chronicling her personal and cultural evolution as a South Asian woman raised in Italy.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

What does it mean to be a leader when traditional leadership models weren’t designed with you in mind? In this episode of Our True Colors, we sit down with Dr. Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, an educator, leadership expert, and founder of Untapped Leaders, to explore how identity shapes leadership.

Dr. Vazquez-Newsum shares her journey navigating leadership as a biracial woman, why mainstream leadership theories often exclude marginalized voices, and how we can redefine leadership in a way that’s authentic and inclusive. We talk about unlearning outdated models, embracing the power of lived experiences, and tapping into the unique perspectives that diverse leaders bring to the table.

Join us for a deep and thought-provoking conversation on how we can expand what it means to lead—and why embracing untapped leadership is the key to changing the workplace and beyond.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Jenny-Vazquez-Newsum:

• Website: untappleaders.com
• Instagram: @untappleaders
• LinkedIn: Jenny Vazquez-Newsum

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

What does it mean to navigate the world as a mixed heritage individual when belonging feels just out of reach? In this episode, Shawna and co-host Kat Aragon welcome Marcel De Jonghe, Head of DEI&B for Europe’s largest local authority, to explore identity, belonging, and the intersections of race and culture. Marcel shares his personal journey as a Zimbabwean-Belgian navigating life in the UK, the challenges of being "not quite Black enough" and "not quite White enough," and how his work in equity and inclusion is shaping a more thoughtful, empathetic world. The conversation covers microaggressions, the power of "sensitive curiosity", and how we can all work toward fostering true belonging—at work, at home, and in our communities. Tune in for an insightful and heartfelt discussion about identity, advocacy, and breaking down barriers.

Watch the episode on YouTube!

Stuff to check out from mentions in the episode:

• What’s the difference between “Inuit” and “Eskimo”?
• What's in a Name? The Meaning of "La Raza"
• The changing categories the U.S. census has used to measure race
• 1930 Census Instructions to Enumerators
• "Instructions to Enumerators" [ORIGINAL]
• Who’s White? Who’s Black? Who Knows?
• John Agard reads his poem, Half-Caste and Half-Caste (John Agard)

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Victoria K. Malaney-Brown, a scholar-practitioner at Columbia University and the first-ever Director of Academic Integrity for undergraduates at Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, joins us to explore the nuanced realities of multiracial identity. From her deeply personal poem "Outside of the Box" to her groundbreaking research on multiracial college students, Dr. Malaney-Brown sheds light on the complexities of navigating identity, privilege, and belonging. We dive into monoracism, critical consciousness, and the importance of creating spaces where mixed-race individuals feel seen and heard. Whether you're mixed-race, a parent, an ally, or someone looking to expand their understanding, this conversation offers valuable insights and inspiration.

You can find Dr. Malaney-Brown on LinkedIn and on Instagram.

Here's some more stuff to check out:

• Multiracial Experiences in Higher Education: Contesting Knowledge, Honoring Voice, and Innovating Practice
• Preparing for Higher Education’s Mixed Race Future: Why Multiraciality Matters
• Racial Identity and Census Categories
• What is Critical Consciousness?
• American College Personnel Association
• Critical Mixed Race Studies Association (Learn about the membership here!)
• Multiracial and Transracial Adoptee Network (MTAN)
• National Conference on Race and Ethnicity

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode, Shawna Gann is joined by graduate student Brieanna Hairston cohost Rachel Sadler. Together, they explore the complexities of racial identity, inclusion, and belonging through the lens of multiracial and racially ambiguous individuals.

Brieanna shares personal experiences growing up in a predominantly White area, navigating racial microaggressions from an early age, and finding her place in diverse academic and professional settings. Rachel reflects on the intersection of race, culture, and societal expectations, providing a candid perspective on navigating life as a biracial Black woman. The conversation touches on the effects of colorism, cultural stereotypes, and fetishization, while highlighting the importance of representation and the evolving understanding of multiracial identities. The group also discusses the role of community, historical contexts like Sundown Towns, and the need for equity-driven progress in the workplace and beyond.

Tune in for a powerful dialogue about embracing authenticity, breaking stereotypes, and creating inclusive spaces in both personal and professional spheres. 

You can also watch the episode on YouTube!

Stuff to Check Out:

• Sundown Towns
• Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism
• Historical Database of Sundown Towns
• The ‘Black Wife Effect’

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this thought-provoking episode, Shawna sits down with Dr. Jenn Noble, psychologist, educator, and advocate for mixed-race families, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities in parenting mixed-race children. Together, they explore:

• The nuances of mixed-race identity and how it shapes a child’s experience.
• Why starting conversations about race with children isn’t as daunting as it seems.
• How parents’ own experiences can influence their approach to raising mixed-race kids.
• Practical strategies to help children embrace their full identity while navigating societal complexities.

Dr. Jenn shares powerful insights on meeting children where they are, supporting their growth, and how race and identity education can start with simple, age-appropriate concepts like melanin. This episode is packed with actionable advice for parents and thought-provoking stories for listeners of all backgrounds.

You can also watch the episode on YouTube!

Follow Dr. Jenn on Instagram: @drjennpsych and learn more about her work at Free to Be Collective.

Stuff to check out from mentions in the episode:

• Unwrapping the Gift of Dialogue: Race Talk with Meredith and Cindy
• Redress and Reparations for Japanese American Incarceration
• Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this deeply reflective episode of Our True Colors, Shawna and guest Shari Baker dive into the emotional aftermath of the recent presidential election. Together, they unpack the complexities of identity, solidarity, and the nuances of navigating blackness in America. From the broader societal implications of the election to the personal journeys of mixed-race identity, Shawna and Shari offer a thought-provoking and heartfelt conversation about resilience, collective grief, and the power of community. Tune in to explore how we can heal, learn, and move forward—together.

Guest Shari Baker, DEIJ strategist and co-founder of The Wells Collective, shares her insights on black identity, coalition-building, and fostering equity in challenging times.

You can also watch the episode on YouTube!

Stuff to check out from mentions in the episode:

• Kamala Harris’ racial and cultural background at the convention
• Why the term “BIPOC” is so complicated, explained by linguists
• Is It Time To Say R.I.P. To 'POC'?
• BAME We're Not the Same
• For Black women, Harris’s loss creates new wound
• The Blue Bracelet Movement, Explained
• A Look at Racial Incongruence
• Racist text messages sent to Black recipients, including children
• Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Summary

In this engaging conversation, Shawna, Rachel, and Kat introduce Hady Mendez, a DEI expert, who shares her journey and insights on employee resource groups, cultural wisdom, and the challenges of navigating racial identity. The discussion highlights the need for allyship, the evolving understanding of racial categories, and the significance of joy and community support in personal and professional growth.

You can also watch the episode on YouTube!

Takeaways

• Mixed race identity is complex and varies greatly among individuals.
• Self-advocacy is crucial for underrepresented groups in the workplace.
• Cultural idioms can provide valuable life lessons and wisdom.
• The importance of employee resource groups in fostering community and support.
• Allyship is essential for creating inclusive environments.
• Racial categories in forms often fail to capture the diversity of identities.
• Colorism exists within the Latino community and affects perceptions of privilege.
• Personal narratives and experiences shape our understanding of identity.
• Joy and positivity can be powerful tools for personal growth.
• Community connections can provide validation and support in shared experiences.

Stuff to check out from mentions in the episode:

• Planning for the 2030 Census is Underway
• Coming to Our Census: Are the Race and Ethnicity Questions Needed?
• How the Census Bureau Stood Up to Donald Trump’s Meddling
• Why the 2030 census will likely show a drop in 'white' Americans
• Who The Census Misses
• Chapter 1: Race and Multiracial Americans in the U.S. Census (Census taker decided race)
• The changing categories the U.S. census has used to measure race

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this insightful episode, Dr. Shawna Gann sits down with DEI experts Lauren Dike and Katrina Liew Wilson for a candid discussion on the shifting landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The conversation explores the evolving role of DEI in the workplace, the pressures of being a "talking head" in the field, and the challenges of racial and cultural identity. Lauren and Katrina share their personal journeys navigating mixed-race backgrounds, dealing with imposter syndrome, and embracing authenticity while leading change. They also address the complexity of DEI rebranding, the struggle for collective healing, and the nuanced experiences of being Black and multiracial in America.

Tune in to hear about the intersection of wellness, inclusion, and belonging, as well as the power of redefining what it means to "fit in" versus truly belonging. The episode concludes with thoughts on Kamala Harris's potential presidency, and the ongoing need for hope and active participation in shaping a more inclusive future.

This episode offers a refreshing take on DEI that challenges common assumptions and invites listeners to rethink how we approach identity and equity in today's society.

You can also watch the episode on YouTube!

Extra Stuff to Check Out:

• Kamala Harris on The Breakfast Club (2019)
• Tema Okun on Her Mythical Paper on White Supremacy
• White Supremacy Culture – Still Here...A Short History of the Original Article 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode, Shawna Gann and Rachel Sadler engage with author Christopher "CJ" Gross, an expert in cultural transformation, to discuss the concepts in his book, What's Your Zip Code Story? Together the group discusses implications on personal and professional experiences. They explore how one's background and community can shape perceptions, opportunities, and biases in the workplace. The discussion emphasizes the importance of mentorship, understanding class migration, and the need for a supportive culture that fosters growth and inclusivity, including expanding your zip code story through meeting new people, going to different places, and trying new things. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the significance of being aware of biases and the necessity of creating psychological safety in mentorship relationships.

You can also watch the episode on YouTube.

Stuff mentioned in the episode that you should check out:

• The Financial Perks of Being Tall
• Stereotype Threat
• Half of U.S. states have passed the CROWN Act to ban hair discrimination

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode, Shawna Gann introduces co-host Rachel Sadler, and together they explore the complexities of racial identity, particularly focusing on the experiences of biracial individuals. They discuss the fluidity of identity, the impact of family dynamics on self-identification, and the societal constructs surrounding race and gender. The conversation also gets into the privileges associated with racial ambiguity, the challenges faced in workplace settings, and the increasing recognition of multiracial identities in America. Ultimately, they emphasize the importance of community and the need for critical discussions about identity and privilege.   

Rachel Sadler is an empowerment coach and founder of Rae of Light Coaching, specializing in helping women unlock their potential and navigate personal and professional challenges. With a strong background in DEI facilitation, anti-racism education, and cultural competency training, Rachel is dedicated to advancing social justice and equity.   

You can also watch the episode on YouTube!

Other stuff to check out:

• The Infuriating Journey From Pet To Threat: How Bias Undermines Black Women At Work
• The Persistence Of Pet To Threat
• The US will become ‘minority white’ in 2045, Census projects
• The Myth of a Majority-Minority America
• GOP Rep. Burchett calls Kamala Harris a "DEI hire"
• What Might It Mean When Critics Call Someone A DEI Hire?
• Vice President Kamala Harris Is Anything But a DEI Hire
• How Italians Became ‘White’
•  "[Trump] is the Avatar for their Grievance"

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode, Shawna Gann introduces the new season of the podcast with one of her two co-hosts, Kat Aragon. They discuss their cultural backgrounds, the importance of representation in the beauty industry, and the need for advocacy and allyship. Kat shares her experiences as a makeup artist and the challenges faced in ensuring diversity in beauty products. The conversation emphasizes the significance of taking action in allyship and the importance of creating spaces for underrepresented voices.

You can also watch the episode on YouTube!

Other stuff to check out:

• Vintage Bandaid Commercial
• Browndages 
• This Is the Worst Way to Make an Inclusive Foundation Shade
• This brand made a BLACK Foundation!?
• The 5 S's of Engagement: Navigating Your Path Through Allyship

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Join the cohosts and me as we reflect on this journey and enjoy the sampler platter we've prepared for you as we talk about the themes we explored, lessons learned, and incredible growth over the years during what we thought would be the last episode.

But it's not!

OTC is coming back for a 5th season, Fall 2024. Stay tuned!

About This Episode:

Part 1: The Mixed Tape with Jason

• Season 2: I'm Gumbo, Baby! 
• Season 2: What's in a Name? 

Part 2: The Mixed Tape with Shannon, Carmen, and Yolandie

• Season 4: Kickin it with Karlton Hoskins
• Season 1: Coming to Our Census
• Season 3: Good Vibes Family Reunion
• Season 3: Sticks and Stones
• Season 1: Growing Up Ambiguously Across the Generations
• Season 3: Unwrapping the Gift of Dialogue
• Season 3: A Mother's Love
• Season 1: Talking H & M: Race and Royalty

Other Stuff:

• Animated map shows the evolution of American accents
• NPR Code Switch: Talk American
• Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

This week I am joined  by Joquina M. Reed, my colleague and dear friend.
She is the founding steward of J Reed Consulting LLC. She is also the curator behind the Please Say Black podcast as well as the Divesting from Whiteness Podcast. Kina is deeply committed to global reparations for chattel enslavement and creating shared humanity.  

In this episode we explore new perspectives on belonging and how learning more about our identities can provide a welcome anchor to our personal narratives. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Yay! Yolandie is back after taking a few months to be with her little one (if you listen carefully, you'll hear a little bit from her, too! 👶). In this episode, Yolandie (and sometimes Olivia) tells us about a play she is working on and the complexities of identity and stereotypes. This all made me very curious and, despite my congestion (sorry, y'all - guess I was keepin' it real), I had lots of questions for her about her experiences and the premise of the play.

References

• Meet Yolandie! Season 4 Cohost
• Will Smith in Emancipation
• Will Smith Has A Candid Answer After Getting Asked Why He Wanted To Make A Movie About Slavery
• Will Smith Explains Why He Avoided Making Movies About Slavery: 'I Wanted to Be a Superhero'
• SPECIAL EPISODE: The Little Mermaid of Color
• The racist backlash to The Little Mermaid and Lord of The Rings is exhausting and extremely predictable

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Prepare to be inspired! On this episode of OTC, I am talking with Dija Henry. Together we discuss her work in film and how the work supports the empowerment of authenticity all the way from the people contributing to the film to those viewing it. We go on to discuss the nuances of having a multicultural family and the connections that younger generations are making cross-culturally – a notion that is good for all of us to practice, including one's sense of belonging, particularly when you are racially ambiguous. We also talked about art being central to our lives, and there's a little bit of 80's and 90's nostalgia sprinkled in, too!

Dija is a multi-award winning actress, filmmaker and CEO and founder of Blue House Entertainment, which is a social impact entertainment company dedicated to telling diverse stories that facilitate heart changing conversation to elevate our culture to a more equitable, inclusive and empathetic society. She also works to coach individuals who are working on their first film. In her free time, Dija likes to read, travel, watch movies with her family and have meaningful conversations with others. She's very grateful she has been able to take her family to two of their three countries of origin. India is next on the list!

References and Resources

• Belonging: A Culture of Place
• Dija on Instagram
• Check out The Blue House on Instagram, too!

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

On this episode of Our True Colors, I had the opportunity to spend time with Velda Thomas - sharing our thoughts on identity, growth, and belonging.

Velda Thomas is the author of Blended: Perspectives on Belonging. She was born and educated in England, UK with family ancestry from Africa, the Caribbean, and the America's. Healing modalities have always been of interest to Velda. She has a love of plants and herbal remedies. For Velda, somatic and ritual experiences weave passion with grounded human experience for creativity and freedom of expression.

Velda has worked as a kindergarten teacher, adult educator, birth doula, massage therapist, sound practitioner and writer. She is a horsewoman, nature lover, mover of the body and world traveler. Velda is currently living in Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula in the USA.

Together, Velda and I talk about belonging to oneself and her sense of vibrational alignment with nature.

Resources and References

• Musicians are Hooking Up Synthesizers to Plants for New Sonic Possibilities
• Connect Your Plant To A Moog Synth With MIDI Sprout
• The Woman King (2022)
• Whites Distrust Biracial People When Their Racial Presentation Varies, Rutgers Study Finds
• Asian Americans are Skeptical of Biracial People’s Racial Loyalties 

(Note: Jacqueline Chen is a former Our True Colors Guest. Check out her episode here.)

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

What a fantastic episode I have for you this week! I am joined by Joe Huang-Racalto, a Civil Rights lobbyist, who works for organizations that defend people who are enslaved in labor and sex trafficking, abused children, minorities living with HIV/AIDS, and humane animal welfare.  He retired from Capitol Hill on June 1, 2017 as Chief of Staff.  During his Congressional career, he focused on civil rights for women and LGBT Americans.  He successfully led efforts to enact the Matthew Shepherd and James D. Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), and the reversal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.  Additionally, he worked with his colleagues to successfully block cuts to Title IX. 

***Warning***
This episode includes sensitive discussions of topics, such as suicide and other topics, which may be difficult for some listeners.

References and Resources:

• Barney Frank
• Who is protected from employment discrimination?
• GOP lawmakers push historic wave of bills targeting rights of LGBTQ teens, children and their families
• Justice Thomas urges U.S. Supreme Court to feel free to reverse precedents
• Supreme Court Dobbs Decision
• Child Welfare League of America
• What is Kinship Care?
• The (Only) 5 Fears We All Share

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Rach Kass is a Nursing Station Technician (NST), life coach, and podcast host and joins us for this episode to talk about her experiences as the White mother of her five biracial children. Also joining us as a guest host, while Yolandie takes some time with her new little one, is Sarah Bacerra - a two-time former guest on OTC. Rachel and her husband, Chris, also host and produce Infusion Health Podcast.

In this episode, she talks with us about being a White mom to biracial children and what that means for their family.

***Warning***
This episode includes sensitive discussions of topics, such as suicide, abuse, violence, and overt racism, that may be difficult for some listeners.

Sarah Bacerra Episodes:

• Growing Up Ambiguously
• Processing COVID-19: A Minisode

References and Resources:

• History made: Bruce’s Beach has been returned to descendants of Black family
• White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America
• How The Adultification Bias Contributes To Black Trauma
• Impression Management and Self Presentation (Goffman)

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this very special episode, I have a one-to-one real-talk session with my son, Christian Gann and his drag persona, Aimee Amour, who is also a DJ in NYC and music producer.

In this episode, Christian is back for his second interview on Our True Colors. If you missed the first interview, you can check it out here. It's linked below, as well.
In this episode, Christian talks about his experiences as a multiracial makeup artist and drag queen and shares his perspectives as Aimee. You don't want to miss it!

References in this Episode:

• Aimee Amour on Instagram
• Aimee Amour on TikTok
• Intersecting Communities: Pride & BLM

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

This week we are back with Part 2 of the interview with Amy Daniels. If you missed Part 1, you can check it out here. In this episode, Amy and I continue our conversation about her lived experiences as a Korean woman who was adopted by White parents and what it's meant moving through spaces where people around you have certain expectations about your identity. We talk about her experiences dating, the "Guest Pass", and even the importance of names.

For Further Exploration

• The Color of Whiteness
• The Problem with ‘People of Color’: It Implies Whiteness is the Default
• Whiteness and White Privilege

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

This episode is the first of a 2-part interview with my friend, Amy Daniels. I'd been wanting to interview her for a couple of years now, and she happened to be hanging out my place when we were like...let's do this! Amy is a superstar recruiter in the management consulting industry in the DC Metro area - sometimes called the "DMV" since it encompasses parts of Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

In this first part of her interview, Amy talks about navigating situations when people make assumptions about her identity, particularly as it pertains to her having been transracially adopted. Together we talk about the strange things folks do when they aren't sure "what you are" or "where you're from".

Don't forget to check out Part 2!

References & Resources

• Key & Peele - Dating a Biracial Guy
• Lee Atwater's Infamous 1981 Interview on the Southern Strategy (Contains strong language)
• "Double Consciousness and the Veil" by W.E.B. Du Bois: Summary and Analysis

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Daniel Washington is an I/O Psychology Master's graduate with a passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He was born in New York City but raised in Atlanta, GA and moved back to New York City in August of 2018 to further his education in I/O Psychology. I received my Master's from Touro College in the summer of 2020. He is now I'm working towards furthering my career in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

In this episode, Daniel talks with me about his identity journey and the way he has been working to confront the anti-Blackness that he grew up with. Realizing it was the first step - and what a hard realization! Check out this episode to hear his story.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this special episode of Our True Colors, Yolandie and I discuss Disney's new live action Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey as Ariel. Join us for this important conversation about social expectations and redefining norms.

REFERENCES

• The Little Mermaid Trailer
• AI Technology Making Little Mermaid White
• Charlotte La Bouff - "Man Catchin' Beignets"
• Racists Are Worried About the Historical Accuracy of Mermaids

RELATED ARTICLES

• A New Ariel Inspires Joy for Young Black Girls: ‘She Looks Like Me’
• The Hashtag That Changed the Oscars: An Oral History
• Researchers have found a major problem with ‘The Little Mermaid’ and other Disney movies
• The Original Version Of Cinderella Might Shock You
• Here's How Disney Is Continuing To Honor Tiana, The First Black Disney Princess
• Cheerios ad with mixed-race family draws racist responses

DIVERSITY ON THE STAGE AND SCREEN

• Whitney Houston Cinderella
• Alice in Wonderland: Sherman Hemsley
• Alice in Wonderland: Sammy Davis Jr.
• JK Rowling tells of anger at attacks on casting of black Hermione
• J.K. Rowling Defends Casting Black Actress as Hermione in ‘Harry Potter’ Play
• Shereen Ahmed dreamed of playing Eliza Doolittle, not Princess Jasmine. Her wish came true

HEART-WARMING REACTIONS

• Instagram: feminist
• TikTok: brotherboy knows what's up

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

After a bit of a summer break, Yolandie and I are back with our guest Ashnie Butler. Ashnie's story starts on the island of Trinidad with roots going back to Southern India. She has lived on the east and west coast of the United States, currently residing in Portland, Oregon, with her non-binary teenager. Her passion for cooking took her to culinary school and started her journey of learning about cultures and people through their food. Once Ashnie completed her B.A. in American Multicultural Studies, she began seeking to affect change through economic justice. Her training in Theater of the Oppressed, Courage Conversations, Mindfulness and Coaching allows her to hold various racial and cultural identities with awareness, skill and presence, pointing individuals, groups and folks with organizations to their own best selves.

In this episode, Ashnie shares her experiences of exploring and coming to understand her identity as it manifest in different settings outside of and inside of the United States. Her story leads to a compelling conversation of self-realization and social identity.

Related to the convo:

"Double Consciousness and the Veil" by W.E.B. Du Bois: Summary and Analysis

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode of Our True Colors, we welcome Karlton Hoskins, #1 International Best Selling Author, Business Owner, Real Estate Investor, and Strategist. In this episode we talk about business and go all the way back to roots. Do NOT miss this fascinating conversation that takes us around the world and back in time.

Resources related to the convo:

• What Became of the Taíno?
• From Acadian to Cajun
• The Creole Community in The United States of America, a story
• What's the difference between Cajun and Creole—or is there one?

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this fantastic episode with Payal Beri, we discuss what it's like living abroad for an extended amount of time as 3rd Culture folks. Along the way we talk about how this has equipped us to be empathetic and applying these life lessons to what we do every day. Come along for the ride!

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this intriguing episode of Our True Colors, Sandra Hunter joins us to talk about her work with Wild Women Leaders of Colour and shares her own experiences of identity and "herstory". Together we talk about leaning on each other...and our ancestors...for support as we as women of color navigate space historically dominated by white men.

Resources related to the convo:

• How a Lack of Sponsorship Keeps Black Women Out of the C-Suite
• Sista, Sista: How A Mentor Can Be The Key To Advancing Your Career
• Battling the stereotypes: why black women need mentors not ‘angry’ labels
• A Road Map for Advancing Women in Tech
• Former IKEA boss reveals the trick to going through a store in 5 minutes
• ‘My Parents Decided To Outwit Everyone By Giving Their Daughter A White Man’s Name’
• Job Applicants With ‘Black Names’ Still Less Likely to Get Interviews
• The hidden tax on being different (HBR)
• There is a tax on being different (Financial Times)
• Harvard Study Says Minority Job Candidates Are 'Whitening' Their Resumes When Looking for Jobs

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

I am so happy to welcome back Season 3 Cohost, Carmen Watson, to talk with me about the news of the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. I wanted to know her thoughts and perspectives as a Canadian and understand what conversations are happening among our neighbors to the north. Join us for this special episode as we discuss this incredibly impactful Supreme Court decision.

Resources to Check Out

• Woman Whose Conception Sparked Roe v. Wade Case Breaks Silence: 'I'm Keeping a Secret but I Hate It'
• If Clarence Thomas were consistent, he'd oppose Loving v. Virginia
• Interracial Marriage Under Attack: Thinking the Unthinkable
• Clarence Thomas Signals Same-Sex Marriage and Contraception Rights at Risk After Overturning Roe v. Wade
• What access to abortion looks like across Canada
• Trudeau calls U.S. Roe v. Wade reversal of abortion rights 'horrific'

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

In this episode, we talk with Rahimeh Ramezany about identity and making assumptions about who people are and what their lived experiences must be. Rahimeh is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Intercultural Specialist, whose work is focused on addressing the experiences of marginalized ethnic, racial, and religious communities in the United States, in order to create change on individual, interpersonal, and systemic levels. Rahimeh has a Master's degree in Intercultural Communication from San Jose State University, and has worked at multiple DEI-focused nonprofits and consulting firms.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Ruthie Bowles is a US Army Veteran, mom to four kids, and lives in Maryland with her family, goats, and chickens. She focuses on bringing awareness to the unethical tactics and strategies in the small business coaching and consulting industry. Ruthie is also an audiobook narrator.

She joins OTC this episode to talk about the difference between work-life balance and work-life harmony. Too often we try to juggle everything all at once rather than looking for how we can do some ebb and flow. Ruthie also talks with us in this episode about teasing out powerful coaches and consultants from those who are just out to pitch slap you. While everyone can use a great coach, Ruthie warns about those with unhealthy marketing and sales tactics that are all about selling hot air and not results.

References you might find interesting:

• Work-Life Harmony
• Belgium, Portugal And Other European Countries Prohibit Managers From Contacting Employees Outside Of Working Hours

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

While Washington, DC is the city where he resides, Dr. Christopher Riddick
is a proud son of North Carolina and hails from the rural county of Gates. His upbringing was significant in shaping his identity and fuels many of his passions today. Dr. Riddick is intent on helping organizations truly exhibit what they frequently say but are often challenged to demonstrate: that people are their most valuable assets. Dr. Riddick is a devoted husband and father of three. He is a lover of music, bacon, and bourbon and enjoys quality time with friends when any or all three are present.

In this episode we focus on belonging...even within one's perceived cultural community. Dr. Riddick shares his experiences with trying to fit in when not seen as Black enough or when seen as too Black. He also talks with Yolandie and me about judgment associated with the perceived identity of one's significant other.

Here are some other resources to check about topics mentioned in this episode:

• Colorism and the Paper Bag Test
• Code-switching: 4 Forum voices on what it is – and why we need to talk about it
• Why dark-skinned black girls like me aren't getting married

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Katrina Strohl (they/them) served as an Aviation Structural Mechanic in the US Navy. In 2018, Katrina decided to take their own life after internalizing the behavior of an unsafe workplace. They now serve others through their work in psychological safety, mental health and boundary strategy for people who share their identities or their lived experiences.

This work includes Absolutely Not!, the weekly live podcast dedicated to providing examples of setting personal boundaries at work and the vocabulary needed to name harm in those spaces. Katrina is Black, Sāmoan and Queer and lives with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a Substance Use Disorder.

Heads up: This episode contains strong language.

In this episode, Katrina talks with Yolandie and me about the ambiguity...of racial ambiguity (did you catch that?). We also discuss how we can watch out for the characters of white supremacy culture - no matter how you racially identify. We also talk about how the media can influence how we see ourselves and how others see us.

Here are some other resources to check about topics mentioned in this episode:

• The term "Latinx" is used by just 3% ofUS Hispanics
• POC, WOC, BIPOC and other terms labeling people of color
• The Costs of Code-Switching

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Welcome to Season 4 of Our True Colors! I am happy to introduce my co-host for this season, Yolandie Hamilton. She'll be hangin' with us for the season, so get to know a little bit about her in this episode.

Yolandie Hamilton is a personal style and confidence coach, mom and proud to be the very interesting mix of Jamaica and Poland, with a lot of other stuff in there. She is passionate about giving women back to themselves through style and connecting with others to learn what they are passionate about. She also performs in community theatre and teaches kids improv at summer camps and in her words, has "an unquenchable desire to collect the shiny math rocks" otherwise known as really cool dice. She is excited to bring her perspective from small town Michigan to the show.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Join Carmen and me as we talk about our experiences, what we've learned, and the takeaways from Season 3.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Our guest this week is Stefanie Kurgatt. Stefanie was born in Eldoret, Kenya but moved to the states at a young age and most of her childhood was spent in Tallahassee, Fl. She attended Georgetown University, where she earned her B.S. in Healthcare Management/Policy and M.S. in Health Systems Administration. She holds a great interest in health disparities, community health, and social determinants of health and strives to increase access to care for the underserved. In her spare time, Stefanie loves to workout, go on runs and bike rides around DC, and cook. She loves being outside and going on different adventures/road trips. Most recently Stefanie embarked on her first backpacking trip and is excited for more outdoor adventures! 

In this episode, Stefanie talks with Carmen and me about her experiences going on her identity journey as a biracial immigrant and the confidence she has gained learning to accept and love herself for who she is and her desire for others recognize the whole person for who they are and all the goodness they bring to the table.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Dr. Charletta Wilson is  an industrial & organizational psychologist, an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Certified Professional Coach, Global Team Coach, TEDx Speaker and Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator at CaPeesh Consulting LLC. For over two decades, she’s served thousands of clients in business startups, leadership and organizational development. In our interview, Dr. Wilson  shares stories of how she was introduced to colorism and how it parlayed with stories of not being good enough. With this talk, she is able to put language to hard experiences that may, otherwise, go unnoticed in our everyday biases.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Haley and Megan are sisters who grew up in rural Louisiana. Haley is now a school psychologist working in South Louisiana. Megan lives in New Orleans and works in the film industry. These sisters love history and started making a list of historical figures who were mixed race a few year ago. Two years ago they decided to turn their list into a blog. Since then they’ve been adding more people to the list and sharing blog or Instagram posts about them. Some of the people on the list are well known historical figures who many don’t realize were mixed race, like Booker T Washington or Alexandre Dumas. Others are less well known, but still have incredible stories and accomplishments.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

My guest this week is Nikki Innocent.  Nikki is a 2-time TEDx speaker, certified women’s leadership coach, diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) strategist and the host of the podcast Checkbox Other, that focuses on the journey toward belonging.

Five years ago, Nikki left behind her career in corporate America to live and lead fully as herself focusing on belonging, releasing the pressure to “fit in” and embracing the ways she differed as a creative, biracial, Millennial woman. Nikki’s work focuses on fostering a new generation of leaders looking to leverage their unique power and privilege to lead their lives authentically to make the future a more inclusive place.

In this episode, Nikki and I talk about her journey away from corporate America into her new adventure of entrepreneurship. We also talk about her experiences being "other" in a number of situations and how she helps leaders in organizations navigate tricky discussions. Following the interview, my co-host Carmen and I discuss "Cancel Culture" and "Calling In vs. Calling Out". Carmen shares this interesting NYT article about Loretta J. Ross, a professor at Smith College, who teaches a course  on the topic.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

My guest this week is Dr. Shantel Gabrieal Buggs. Dr. Buggs is an assistant professor of sociology and African American studies at Florida State University, specializing in research on multiracial identity, representation, and romantic, sexual, and family relationships. She is currently working on an edited collection of essays on "queering" consent for LGBTQ people in the #MeToo era and her first monograph on the online dating experiences of multiracial women in Central Texas. She's also collaborating on several other projects exploring race, gender, and inequality within higher education.

Her primary research agenda focuses on multiracial identity, family dynamics, and interracial relationships (race, gender, intimacy, culture), and she has written about the online dating experiences of self-identified multiracial and multiethnic women as well as other pieces such as how the BLM movement is shaping how women vet partners and how multiracial women view their relationships as interracial. 

Check out this episode where we discuss online dating and the future of the US in light of shifting demographics and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Maris Lidaka is a filmmaker in Los Angeles and the creator of the Blended Future Project. Maris talks with me about his experience growing up mixed both in a mostly white suburb but also abroad in high school. This experience allowed him to gain some perspective on race and who he is.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Natalie Forest, Ph.D. an intuitive transformational Mentor with a background in history and teaching. She is a teacher inside and out in all she does. She helps people going through a "midlife crisis" reconnect with their own unique self through addressing "the Hidden Power of Patterns" so that they can finally live their lives, their way.

Natalie is from Germany, studies U.S. and "USSR" history to become an experts in issues relating to equality in the U.S. through her studies of history, humanities, psychology and life - transferring skills all along the way. She lives in Maryland with her daughter and husband and enjoys volunteering with her daughter, reading, yoga, and travels. She is the CEO of the SAAS company iDueSystems, Executive Director for The Women of Global of Change, a columnist for The Los Angeles Tribune, a speaker, author and more.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Sarah Lotus Garrett is a life coach working with mixed adults and monoracial parents of mixed children. She was born and raised in northern California and has lived in Northern Italy for the past 15 years. She is a woman, daughter, sister, mother, wife, auntie, friend, world citizen, chef, gardener, creator of beautiful things, a napper, and a joy seeker.

You can check out her work on her Mixed Bloom Room site, where can also learn about her courses. Don't forget to follow her on Instagram, too!

P.S. You can check out the "butters" video here. 😂

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

How was the topic of race handled in your household? Something you've always discussed or an area that typically went untouched? 

Meredith and Cindy Palomo are a couple living in the Kansas City area. They recently paused a three-year endeavor as foster parents. They're lucky to have three amazing daughters, aged 20, 17, and 3. They have a passion for sharing what they know about trauma-informed care, and have a deep belief that every child deserves to grow up with a connection to their roots, biological and otherwise.

Meredith Palomo and Lauren Wiggins are sisters and grew up in the suburbs of Kansas City. Now mothers, each living in a city with a rich activist culture, they've started grappling again with what it means to be bi-racial, black, and women and what they hope to share with their children about their experiences.

On this episode of OTC, these wonderful women come together to discuss these experiences and their plans for bringing up their children after having reflected on their own childhoods.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Daniel Quan-Watson, a high-ranking official in Canada's Public Service, has a unique blend of experiences. He's held the highest Canadian civil service position, is fluent in both English and French, has lived in 13 Canadian locations, traveled extensively across the country, authored long-lasting legislation, overseen a prominent National Parks system, and contributed to shaping Canada's responses to critical issues. Notably, he's the first Deputy Minister of Chinese-Canadian heritage in the federal government, akin to a US Undersecretary.

Mr. Quan-Watson, a diverse heritage, discusses his response to Rex Murphy's article on racism in Canada as our guest. See the links for more details.

REX MURPHY: Canada is not a racist country, despite what the Liberals say

DANIEL QUAN-WATSON: An Answer to Rex Murphy's Questions on Racism in Canada

Other interesting reads:

• What Racial Terms You Should Avoid
• Understanding the Stressors and Types of Discrimination That Can Affect Multiracial Individuals
• Biracial couple shares experience, advice on having conversations about race with children

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

I had the pleasure to welcome the reigning Mrs. Tennessee for 2020 - 2021, Mrs. LaFaye Noel. Not only is LaFaye active in her community and beyond, she speaks of intersectionality, self-esteem, and skills to bring confidence to just about any situation with the wisdom of a mother of four, educator, and a shining example of diversity,  equity, and inclusion advocating for minorities through her platform “Unicorns: We Belong!”.

LaFaye Noel began competing as a teen and now steps into a new division. She’s served as a coach, contestant, and even a pageant mom. After being deflected from competing due to her same-sex marriage, LaFaye was determined to make a difference with an organization that aligns with her beliefs and values. 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Katie Andresen is the host & producer of Mixed Kid Chronicles, a podcast for the mixed up and mixed race. This week my guest is Podcaster Katie Andresen, the creator and host of Mixed Kid Chronicles. She shares her identity story and what it’s been like as a podcaster talking with others. In this Episode we talk about “otherness” overseas and general experiences of being racially ambiguous. Carmen weighs in, too - don’t miss it!

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

My guest this week is life coach and counselor, Brittany George. Brittany was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada and is the founder of Mixed Mental Health. She focuses on identity alignment and building confidence and community. Mixed men and women can find relatable content on her site about what it is liked to be mixed and how your mental health is affected by what we experience.

In this episode, Brittany talks a little bit about her program for women,  but also shares a bit of her story, even as she continues her own identity journey. You can find Brittany on Instagram and on Facebook.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Rara Imler is a native CHamoru born and raised on Guam. She is a comedian, writer, actor, and adult entertainer based out of Atlanta, Georgia. She has joined me on the show to discuss what it means to be a mixed-race Islander and the difficulties experienced  when trying to assimilate and be fully accepted into one's respective culture(s). In this interview, she describes this phenomenon as not being unique when experiencing life on the island, but that it can impact Americans in the continental U.S. as well. You can catch up with Rara on Twitter @islandgoth.

More about CHamoru (Chamorro) History and Culture:

• Spelling variants 
• Culture and History 
• More Culture and History 

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Hang with me and my cohosts from Seasons 1 through 3 in this special episode as we discuss our reaction to the US Presidential Election. Shannon Edwards (Season 1), Jason Mitchum (Season 2), and Carmen Watson (Season 3) join me to talk about our perspectives, our hopes, and our disappointments. Carmen, who is Canadian, gives us her viewpoints as a neighbor from the north.

Be safe everyone, and don't forget to join the community on Instagram and Facebook. You can join the FB group to discuss all the goings on in the world of racial ambiguity. 

Here is some additional info for you to explore:

• How are Electoral College Electors Chosen?
• Three-Fifths Compromise
• Understanding the Three-Fifths Compromise
• DC Taxation without Representation
• Can DC Make it 51?
• Will Washington, DC and Puerto Rico be Granted Statehood?

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

The time has arrived. Election Day in America is here. With me to discuss the significance of this election, the very fulcrum of the future direction of America, is my guest, April Powers.

April is the Managing Director of First Impression Rx, a full service consulting firm that helps fortune 500, nonprofits, and government agencies manage differences through training and diversity and inclusion strategy. She is also the Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer for the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. Prior to this, she led inclusion efforts at NestléUSA as well as Amgen. She is Bluish (black and Jewish), bilingual, has lived in the US, South America and Europe and, thus brings a global perspective with local understanding to her clients' goals in the inclusion space.

Join us as we discuss this important event. And if you are eligible and haven't yet cast your ballot - be ready with a plan for Election Day!

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

This week I am joined by the cast of Blasian Narratives Vol. I. Some  have gone on to take on a diverse range of endeavors but this project continues to connect them. It has been five years since Volume 1, and now the group is back together to discuss their perspectives on being Black and Asian.

Visit blasianproject.org/ for more about the Blasian Project and follow them on Instagram.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

This week my guest is Therese Kempf, who is a therapist in NYC. She specializes in working with trauma and couples, and has a unique focus in working with Racism as Trauma. Therese is also a body based therapist (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy) and helps her clients see the body as a main source of information as well as a primary channel for healing. She has also been featured in a short film called The Devolution of Love, where she is a couples therapist discussing the nuances of dating in the Tinder culture today. She was also in the Netflix film She Did That!, a film about black entrepreneurial women.

In this episode she and I discuss the different ways that racism can impact us and cause trauma - even when not directly. I invite you to this conversation as well as the discussion that follows with my co-host, Carmen. Below you can find more information on some of the topics discussed in the follow up discussion.

Want to know more about Therese and what she does? Check out her IG accounts here and here for more.

Racial Disparities in Health Care

• Centers for Disease Control
• Association for American Medical Colleges
• American Bar Association
• New York Times

Joyce Echaquan 

• BBC
• Time

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

I am happy to welcome Zakiya Mabery CEO of B Global Diversity Inclusion Strategic Planning. In this episode of Our True Colors, Zakiya talks with me about the intersections of being a black woman with disabilities. Zakiya is active in the world of diversity and inclusion  (D&I) and her new book, Diversity and Inclusion in the Age of COVID, will be available for pre-sale at the end of October, in which she has sound advice for executives navigating the world of DEI.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Wanda Booth is a business strategist helping the Million Dollar Business Divas achieve financial freedom and purpose in their online business. She also served 25 years in the US Army where conversations of race, diversity, and equal opportunity are often discussed. Wanda currently lives in Kansas raising her three children to understand their true selves.

In this episode, she talks with me about her experiences as a black woman raising her multiracial children and her efforts to shield them from the racist hurt that she experienced in her younger years.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Richard Pierre is a filmmaker who was born in the US but is currently living in Toronto, Canada. He joins me to talk about his experiences that led him down the path to film-making and also talks about the day that he became black. Don't miss this episode as we dive deep into the nuances of race and culture and the power of seeing oneself reflected on-screen. Films like What Are You are and added importance when created by mixed folks.

Check out WhatAreYouFilm.com to learn more about Richard's films and follow him on Instagram @WhatAreYouFilm. Visit his website at richardbpierre.com to check out more of his work.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Joshua Grant, a researcher working with the Transitional Justice Resource Center in Kosovo, talks with me about his studies in transitional justice. He is passionate about issues of race in international relations as well as what is happening in the US. In this conversation, we compare recent and historical events in the context of what we are experiencing in America and around the world today.

Below are some resources to get you started on your own research surrounding these topics:

History of Policing in America
https://www.insider.com/history-of-police-in-the-us-photos-2020-6

Black Codes and Reconstruction
https://www.insider.com/history-of-police-in-the-us-photos-2020-6

Greensboro Massacre
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aYuqI_69g0
https://www.wunc.org/post/40th-anniversary-greensboro-massacre
https://belovedcommunitycenter.org/truth-reconciliation/

The Southern Strategy
https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/applied-and-social-sciences-magazines/southern-strategy

Transitional Justice in Action
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/14/europe/nazi-grandfather-store-scli-intl-grm/index.html

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Cedric Stout is with Carmen and me for this second episode of the season. Cedric, aka Skycedi, is from the United States but is currently living in Seoul, South Korea. He is a filmmaker, photographer, and YouTuber.

In this conversation, Cedric talks about what is was like growing up being half-Korean and half-Black. He walks us through the various stages of his identity journey, helping us to further appreciate the goodness and beauty in being multicultural.

Check out Skycedi on YouTube to learn more about him and what he's up to. His YouTube channel is about him and his girlfriend sharing stories of culture, whether it be from the lens of being half-Korean, or highlighting different aspects of Korea. They do discussions, short films, mini-documentaries, and vlogs on the channel.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Welcome to Season 3 of Our True Colors! I would also like to welcome my co-host for this season, Carmen Watson! She was a guest in Season 2 - I encourage you to go back and check out her episode if you haven't already heard it. This first episode of the season further introduces you to Carmen.

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!

Jason and I close out the season talking about the experiences we had and the topics covered. Be sure to subscribe or follow so you don't miss the start of Season 3!

If this is your first time with OTC, check out  EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram!

Our True Colors is powered by The Culture Crucible. Go to THE HUB to learn more!
Consider joining the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association!